Sams Care

Patients in Coweta and Fayette counties with little or no income soon will have increased access to healthcare services provided by Coweta Samaritan Clinic and Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic, thanks to a $270,000 initial donation to the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation by the family of Drs. Ferrol and Helen Sams as a tribute to the two physicians’ legacy.

Dr. Sams, who serves as chief medical officer of the Piedmont Clinic and co-medical director of Piedmont WellStar HealthPlans, and his siblings, Ferrol Sams, III, M.D., Ellen Nichol, and Fletcher Sams, made the donation to the Piedmont Healthcare Foundation to implement the Sams Care Coordination Program, which was designed to expand capacity at the free clinics in Newnan and Fayetteville.

Last year, Coweta Samaritan Clinic provided care during 2,100 visits for patients with conditions like hypertension, breathing disorders, diabetes and obesity. Likewise, Fayette C.A.R.E. Clinic served 2,016 patients in 3,434 visits. Both clinics rely on private donations and community support to offer affordable healthcare services. As part of the Sams Care Coordination Program, the two clinics will increase utilization of nurse practitioners and licensed medical social workers to address any underlying socioeconomic issues that may prevent a patient’s recovery. Additionally, the program will enable the clinics to transition to a new electronic medical record and practice management system called Epic.

As a not-for-profit entity, Piedmont relies on the generosity of others like the Sams family in order to offer many programs and advanced medical technology to the community. Click here to donate in support of the Sams Care Coordination Program.